Civil servants, professionals can become ECP members

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided in principle to change eligibility for members of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and for this purpose legislation is being introduced in the next session of the National Assembly (NA) starting Monday (today), The News has learnt.

The Parliamentary Committee on Electoral Reforms, in its meeting headed by Finance Ministry Ishaq Dar, on April 18 asked the sub-committee to come up with the recommendations suggesting criteria for appointment of ECP members. The parliamentary committee will meet tomorrow and finalise a proposal to amend the criteria.

Dar, while talking to The News, said the parliamentary committee is meeting tomorrow and will give its final recommendation with consensus for appointment of ECP members. He further said as the existing members are retiring on 10th June, 2016 and a change in appointment procedure or criteria needs a constitutional amendment, which has to be adopted with consensus. He further stated the next session is the budget session, so they have to pass this amendment in next sessions of parliament starting from Monday (today).

Dar said the electoral reforms committee had decided to adopt electoral reforms in two phases. According to the proposed draft of legislation, now along with serving or retired judges of the Supreme Court, retired or serving civil servant equal to BS-22 will be eligible for appointment as member election commission for a period of three years.

Technocrats/professionals of good repute may also be appointed as member ECP. Appointment procedure for ECP members will be the same as existing. Presently, under Article 213 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the ECP members have to be former judges of the four high courts from each province.